Rail spike



=p G. w. MULLER 2,257,641

RAIL SPIKE Filed June 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 30, 1941- r G. w. MULLER 2,257,641

RAIL SPIKE Filed June 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jo I III 'll v 6 (5 I 'l v; a 6

Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES/PATENT OFFICE RAIL SPIKE George W. Muller, Miami, Fla. Application June 11, 1940, Serial No. 339,975

23 Claims.

This invention relates to rail retaining spikes.

More particularly, the invention relates to yieldable rail retaining spikes for operative association with rail road rails, tie plates and ties for retaining same in proper position with provision for proper wave motion of the rails under the influence of rolling stock traveling thereover.

The desirability of elastic or yieldable rail retaining spikes has been recognized for some time and has resulted in the provision or proposalof many different forms or types of yieldable or elastic spikes.

While most of such forms heretofore proposed or used met the requirements of yieldable retention means for railroad rails, they did not offer sufiicient yieldable resistance as to positively preclude creeping of the rails during the wave motion thereof under the weight of rolling stock.

This was due to the fact that the prior yieldable spike structures had bearing engagement with the tops of the rail flanges and as the shanks of such spikes necessarily extended through the tie plates and ties outwardly of the edges of the rail flanges, relatively long, and more or less horizontal spring arms extended from the shanks into bearing engagement with the tops of the rail flanges.

These arms were relatively easily flexed even though they were constructed of relativelyheavy gauge material, and while permitting wave motion to the rails they did not bear down with sufii-cient pressure to prevent creeping of the rails.

An elastic or yieldable rail spike, for maximum efliciency, should readily yield vertically in the wave motion of the rails as occasioned by rolling stock, and at the same time engage the rails with sufficient pressure to prevent creeping thereof.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provisionof elastic spikes which in operative association with rails will readily provide for wave motion in the rails while positively preventing creeping thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of elastic rail retaining spikes comprising shank portions for projection through the holes in the tie plates and into the ties, and head portions for yieldable engagement with the edges of the rails whereby wave motion of the rails is readily permitted while creeping thereof is avoided.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of yieldable rail retaining spikes including tie engaging shank portions and head portions, the head portions including arcuate cluding arcuate arms which are flexed when in operative posit n whereby substantial pressure is exerted in opposed directions against the rail flange edges and the outer walls of the tie Plate holes for preventing creeping of the rails as well as for maintaining the shank portions in applied position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of yieldable rail retaining spikes which include shank portions and head portions, the head portions including arcuate yieldable arms for engaging the rail flanges under substantial pressure at a plurality of points.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a yieldable rail retaining spike which includes a two-part shank and an elastic head, in the form of a loop whose inherent resiliency normally maintains the two-part shank in spaced relation, the shank parts being oppositely bevelled on their free ends for guiding entrance into a tie plate hole, the opposite walls of which force the shank parts together upon driving the shank into a tie, the loop thereby being compressed into yieldable engagement with the edge of a rail flange and the shank yieldably reacting against the outer wall of the tie plate hole.

A stillfurther object of the invention is the provision of a yieldable rail retaining spike comprising a shank to be inserted into a tie plate hole and be driven into a tie, and a yieldable head of arcuate formation for engaging the edge of a rail flange, together with a second spike including a shank for operative engagement between the first shank and the adjacent wall of the tie plate hole, the second spike having a driving head arcuate on its lower face for conformity with the yieldable arcuate head whereby the rail flange will be subjected to substantial lateral pressure by the head upon driving the second spike into a tie.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a yieldable rail retaining spike including a pair of shank portions each having a yieldable arcuate head, one head adapted for yieldable engagement with the edge of a rail flange and the other head adapted for yieldable engagement with the upper face of the rail flange.

A still further object of the invention .is the provision of yieldable rail retaining spikes which are simple in structure, highly durable in use, and which efficiently preclude creeping of rails while at the same time permitting same to yield laterally and to undergo the usual wave motion.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference will be had to the' following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a transverse section through a portion of a tie plate and the adjacent edge of a rail flange showing a yieldable rail retaining spike constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the same spike being applied.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of spike.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a tie plate adjacent a rail flange edge, showing a further modified form of retaining spike, the section being taken in a plane substantially as represented by the line 55 in Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a still further embodiment of the invention, the section being taken in a plane substantially as represented by the line 'l-'I in Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a still further embodiment of the yieldable spike. 1

Figure 10 is a view also similar to Figures 1 and 9 disclosing a still further form of yieldable spike.

Figure 11 is a top plan view, on reduced scale, of the structure illustrated in Figure 10'.

Figure 12 is a complete transverse section through a tie plate with the base of a rail supported thereon, and a portion of a tie being shown, this view disclosing an opposed pair of spikes constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention, one of the spikes being shown as in applied position and the other spike being shown in the process of application.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the left hand spike shown in Figure 12, with the secondary spike omitted.

Figure 14 is atop plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 15 with the shank of the secondary spike in transverse section.

Figure 15 is a transverse section in a plane substantially as represented by the line l5-l5 in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of a still further embodiment of the yieldable spike.

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of :a portion of a still further modified form of yieldable spike.

Figuses 18 and 19 are side elevational views of portions of further modified forms of back or secondary spikes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings by the use of reference characters, and referring first to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, S designates a spike adapted for operative association with a tie plates P and the flange F of a railroad rail.

The spike is adapted for use with standard tie plates which have four holes as indicated in Figures 6 and 8 but only one of which appears in Figures 1 and 2.

The spike S is constructed from an elongated strip of spring steel, preferably rectangular in cross section as indicated in Figures 8 and 14, the strip being bent intermediate its ends and nearer one end than the other to provide a head in the form of a loop designated at Ill. The loop includes a bowed central portion II and oppositely curved end portions l2 and I3 respectively merging into shanks l4 and IS. The shank I4 is substantially longer than the shank l5 and the shanks are beveled toward the adjacent sides thereof as at l6 and I! respectively for a purpose later to appear.

As is indicated in Figure 2, the inherent resiliency of the head l0 normally maintains the shanks I4 and I5 in substantial spaced relation whereby the head is contracted upon application of the spike with the result that substantial lateral pressure is exerted thereby.

The spike S is applied as indicated in Figure 2 by first driving the longer shank 14 through the tie hole h and into a tie (not shown). As the shank I4 is being driven downward into th tie the bevel H on shank I5 will engage the adjacent edge of the rail flange F and be cammed toward the shank l4 as it moves downward, whereby the head ID will assume the position in Figure 1 with the outer concave portion of the reverse bend H3 in gripping contact with the edge of the rail flange F. The beveled end H will of course be driven into the tie.

With this construction, the expansive tendency of the loop head Ill will exert substantially a reaction against the rail flange edge as well as the outer wall of the tie plate hole It.

The spike illustrated is of course opposed by a similar spike on the other side of the rail flange as is indicated in Figure 12, and it can also be made integral or one piece material as shown by dotted lines in said figure, and as is also illustrated in Fig. 9, and accordingly the rail flange edges will be subjected to opposed pressures of sufiicient magnitude to prevent creeping of the rail and as there is a yieldable tendency: for the shanks l4 and Hi to separate they will be positively retained in the tie plate hole as well as in the tie.

While this improved form of spike functions with maximum efficiency to prevent creeping of the rail, lateral movement as well as wave motion of the rail is permitted due to the yieldability of the head or loop in both vertically and laterally.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a spike S which is generally similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, but difiers therefrom in that the head or loop H1 at the left side thereof embodies an outwardly projecting bend l8 merging into an upwardly directed bend IS, the upper convex surface of which engages the lower concave surface of the central portion II.

This spike will function similarly to that of Figures and 2, but will possess substantially greater expansive tendency due to the compression of a greater number of bends or curved portions upon approach of the normally separated shanks l4 and IS.

The embodiment of yieldable spike illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 embodies the same general principles as those already described in that it exerts a yieldable pressure against th rail flange laterally thereof.

This spike S includes a two-part shank, which parts are designated and 2|, and which are adapted to be inserted in the tie plate hole h and driven into the tie. The shank 2|! at its upper end is curved longitudinally of the rail, inwardly toward the web of the rail, outwardly from the web and terminates in a downward extension 22 yieldably engaging the edge of the rail flange and entering the tie plate hole h The other shank 2| is similarly curved and terminates in a rail flange edge engaging portion 23.

The curved portions which constitute the spik head are of the form in plan indicated in Figure 6, and th head portions common to the respective shanks are in the form of ogee curved yieldable arms 24 and 25 respectively which are yieldable both vertically and laterally with re spect to the rail flange.

The arms 24 and 25 are laterally outwardly flexed upon driving the shanks 20 and 2| into the tie and such arms are also flexed in a vertical direction with the result that substantial pressure is exerted by the reaction of the arms against the edges of the rail flange, whereby creeping of the rail is prevented while offer ng provision for lateral movement as well as wave motion of the rail.

If desired the arm 24 may terminate in a projection for bearing down on top of the railiflange instead of engaging the edge as disclose In Figures 7 and 8 is illustrated a yieldable rail retaining spike S which embodies a twopart shank 21 and 28, the former of which is provided with a curved arm 29 similar to the arm 25 in Figures 5 and 6 and terminates in a rail flang edge engaging portion 30. The other shank portion 28 terminates in a driving head 3| disposed above the arm 29. It may be here noted that the previously described spikes are preferably driven through the intervention of a suitable impact tool properly shaped to engage the head.

In Figure 9 is illustrated a yieldable spike S which is of a dual shank type and is preferably constructed by bending an elongated strip of spring steel intermediate its ends to provide a pair of adjacent shanks 33 and 34 for extension through the tie plate hole It and to be driven into the tie T.

Th shank 33 supports a head in the form of an elongated arm 35 embodying upward bends 36 and 31, an intermediate downward bend 38 and a terminal extension 39 yieldably engaging the edge of the rail flange F, and resting in the tie plate hole h The shank 34 supports a head in the form of an elongated arm 40 resting upon the upward bends 36 and 31 and terminating in a downwardly curved portion 4| yieldably engaging the top surface of the rail flange.

It is to be understood that inthe forms of spike previously described the spike shank was driven into th tie through one of the tie plate holes adjacent the rail flange while in this embodiment of the invention the shank is driven through one of the tie plate holes distant from the rail flange. This provides a longer yieldable head arm and at the same time does not require the head to extend laterally of the shank distant from the rail flange.

It is to be particularly observed that in this form, however, the shanks 33 and 34 curve laterally away from the rail flange adjacent the arms 35 and 40, whereby the bends 36, 31 and 38 in arm 35 will be put under substantial compression when the shanks are driven into the tie and the arm 40 will exert substantial yieldable reaction on the upper face of the rail flange as well as offering yieldable resistance to the flexing of the arm 35.

The spike S according to Figures 10 and 11, is of two-part construction, but same can be made integral as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 10, and embodies a primary portion 43 and a secondary portion 44. The primary portion 43 includes a shank 45 having a head in the form of an upwardly arched arm 46 terminating in a rail flange edge engaging extension 41. The secondary portion includes a shank having a head in the form of a yieldable and slightly curved arm 43, the terminal of which engages the top of the arm 46 substantially centrally thereof, or when made of one piece of material, the terminal 49 will conform to the curvature of the arched arm 46 by snugly fltting thereover as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 10. This form of spike will function similarly to that in Figure 9 except that there will be no bearing engagement on the top surface of the rail flange.

The spike S according to Figure 12, is similar to that of Figures 10 and 11, being of twopart construction and comprising a primary section or portion 50 and a secondary section or portion 5|. The portion 50 includes a shank 52 and a head in the form of a curved arm 53, having a reversely curved terminal extension 54 yieldably engaging the edge of the rail flange.

\The head and shank occupy the position indicated by full lines when the shank 52 is driven 'nto the tie T. Thereafter the secondary porion 5| which is in effect a driving wedge including a bevel ended shank 55 and an impact receiving head 56 is driven down between the shank 52 and the outer wall of the tie plate hole It resulting in the shifting of shank 52 to the dotted line position or as indicated at the right of Figure 12, whereby the arm 53 is compressed for exerting strong reaction on the rail flange and at the same time the shanks 52 and 55 are both held firmly in position under strong spring reaction. If found advantageous, the spike can be made integral as indicated in said flgure by dotted lines placed to the right thereof.

The spike S", according to Figures 14 and 15, is also of the two-part construction in that it comprises a primary section 58 and a secondary or driving section 59. The primary section includes a'shank 6|] and a head in the form of an arm 6|. The shank is adapted for driving into a tie through a distant tie plate hole h and the arm curves both laterally and longitudinally with respect to the rail flange and terminates in a rail flange edge engaging extension 62. The secondary or driving section 59 includes a shank 53 and a driving head 64, the lower surface of which conforms with the adjacent portion of the arm 6| which is oppositely curved in vertical direction. In this form, the driving of the section 53 into the tie plate hole places the curved arm 6| under compression with the result that strong spring reaction exists between the rail flange and the outer wall of the tie plate hole h.

The spike 8, according to Figure 16 is of a duplex type, being similar to that of Figures 5 and 6, except that the shank is driven down through a tie plate hole remote from the rail flange in lieu of through a hole adjacent the flange as in Figures 5 and 6. The shank in Figure 16 may be single or of two parts. The structure of Figure 16 provides yieldable arms 10, varying in length, and extending laterally and longitudinally in opposed directions from a shank H and bodirnent of the invention the arms have sub-' stantial extent transversely of the rail thereby providing a more flexible structure than that of Figures 5 and 6.

In Figure I! is illustrated a portion of a spike S which is similar to the structure of Figure 9, and includes a primary section and a secondary section "I6. The section 15 includes an arm 11 similar to the arm in Figure 9, but includes in addition thereto, a reverse terminal bend providing an arcuate rail flange engaging portion 18, and the section 16 includes an arm 19 resting upon the upwardly directed bends in the arm 11. In this form the terminals of both arms H and 19 in effect contact the upper face of the rail flange.

In Figure 18 is illustrated a modified form of outer or secondary spike section 80 having a curved head 8| for conformity with and bearing engagement upon the head arm of a primary section of particular form, such for example, as illustrated in Figure 9.

In Figure 19 is illustrated a further modified form of secondary spike section 82 having a curve head 83 for use with another form of head arm included in a primary section.

It is to be particularly noted that while various forms of yieldable rail retaining spikes are disclosed, theyall possess substantially the same yieldable reaction on the rail flange edges, and while such reaction in primarily parallel with the bases of the rail flanges, the curved interengagement between the rail flange edges and spike heads provides a vertical component of yieldable bearing action on the rail for holding same yieldably in position against the supporting ties.

A feature common to all the forms of spike disclosed is that they offer a substantial yieldable reaction between the tie plates and the edges of the rail flanges primarily in a direction transverse to the rail webs for holding the rails against creeping while being of sufficient yieldablility to permit wave motion in and lateral yielding of the rails.

While the invention is disclosed with respect to certain embodiments thereof, only, such is to be considered as illustrative, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the subjoined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elastic rail retaining spike for use with an apertured tie plate and a rail including a base flange having a transversely curved edge; the spike comprising an elongated shank for extension through an aperture in the tie plate when being driven into a tie, and a yieldable head terminating in a rail flange edge engaging portion, the rail flange edge engaging portion being normally so positioned with respect to the shank that same will be cammed toward the shank through engagement with the curved edge of the rail flange upon driving the shank into position resulting in substantial flexing of the head with claim 1 wherein said rail flange edge engaging portion is of elongated form for engagement within a tie plate aperture spaced from the aperture through which the shank extends.

3. An elastic rail retaining spike for use with a tie supported apertured tie plate in turn supporting a rail, the spike including an elongated shank for extension through an aperture in the tie plate and a yieldable head including an arm terminating in a vertical portion for yieldably engaging an edge of the rail flange at a point substantially spaced from the shank longitudinally of the rail.

4. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 3 wherein said vertical portion is of substantial extent for engaging within an aperture in the tie plate adjacent the rail flange edge.

5. An elastic rail retaining spike for use with a tie supported apertured tie plate in turn supporting a rail; the spike including an elongated shank for extension through a tie plate aperture and a pair of yieldable arms extending from the upper end of the shank generally longitudinally of the rail and terminating in rail flange edge engaging portions at opposite sides of the shank longitudinally of the rail.

6. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 5 wherein said rail flange edge engaging portions are substantially parallel with the shank.

7. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 5 wherein said arms each include a bend overlying the rail flange.

S. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 5 wherein said rail flange edge engaging portions are normally spaced laterally of the shank for camming engagement with the rail flange edge concurrent with driving of the shank into position with resulting yieldable contact pressure of said portions with the edge of the rail flange.

9. An elastic rail retaining spike for use with an apertured tie supported tie plate in turn supporting a rail having a base flange with a transversely curved edge; the spike including an elongated shank for extension through a tie plate aperture, and a pair of yieldable arms extending from the upper end to the shank generally longitudinally of the rail and terminating in rail flange edge engaging projections in spaced relation longitudinally of the rail, the projections through driving effort on the shank moving downwardly andtoward the shank over the curved flange edge with a resultant compression of the arms and a reacting pressure engagement between the projections and rail flange edge laterally of the rail.

10. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 9 wherein said arms include bends adjacent said projections for exerting yieldable vertical pressure on the rail flange in reaction to the compression of the arms.

11. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said projections is of a length to engage within a tie plate aperture adjacent the rail flange edge.

12. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 9 wherein said shank comprises two portions with each of which one of said arms is in continuation.

13. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 9 wherein one of said arms is longer than the other and includes a bend overlying the rail flange.

14. An elastic rail retaining flange according to claim 9 wherein said arms extend downwardly from the shank to said projections and are each of reverse curved formation in top plan.

15. A holding spike comprising an elongated shank for driving into a support and a yieldable curvilinear head terminating in a shorter shank spaced away from the elongated shank, said shorter shank having a cam face on one side thereof for engaging an object to be held where by the spike will be tensioned and the object held under great pressure in an oblique direc tion when the elongated shank is driven home.

16. An elastic rail retaining spike comprising an elongated shank and a curved yieldable head merging into a short shank cam face portion for engaging a rail and holding same under compression upon driving the elongated shank home.

1'7. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 16 together with a secondary yieldable head in bearing engagement-with the flrst head.

18. An elastic rail retaining spike according to claim 16 wherein the short shank is of substantial extent for engagement within a tie plate aperture adjacent the rail flange edge and in spaced relation to the elongated shank.

19. A spike comprising an elongated shank for extension through an aperture in a tie plate and into a tie, a yieldable head terminating in a shorter shank having a rail engaging camming side and spaced away from the elongated shank.

20. A spike comprising an elongated shank for extension through an aperture in a tie plate and to be driven into a tie, and a yieldable head terminating in a shorter shank having a cam face for engaging a rail flange, said shorter shank spaced away from the elongated shank whereby upon driving the elongated shank into position, the head is flexed for exerting holding pressure on the rail flange as well as the wall of the aperture in the tie plate engaged by the elongated shank.

21. A spike comprising an elongated driving shank and a yieldable head terminating in a shorter shank cammed on one side for engagement with any suitable object to be held, said shorter shank spaced away from the elongated shank whereby upon driving the elongated shank home, the shorter shank is put in tension and the object held under compression both laterally and vertically.

22. A resilient Spike comprising an elongated driving shank and a shorter shank spaced away from the elongated shank and having a camming surface.

23. An elastic rail retaining spike for use with a tie supported apertured tie plate in turn supporting a rail having a base flange with an edge curved in the upper corner thereof in transverse section of the rail, the spike comprising an elongated shank for extension through an aperture in the tie plate when being driven into a tie, and a yieldable curvilinear head terminating in a rail flange engaging projection, the projection being generally parallel with the shank and bein spaced therefrom at such distance that it will contact the curved corner of the rail flange upon driving the shank into position for movement of said projection into substantial yieldable, pressure contact with, the rail flange edge concurrently with the driving of the shank into position, said projection being of substantial length for projection through an aperture in the tie plate adjacent the edge of the rail flange.

GEORGE W. MUIIER. 

